Family of Black security guard Jemel Roberson shot dead by cops files civil suit

Jemel Roberson, a 26-year-old nightclub security guard, was fatally shot by suburban police officers in Illinois as he attempted to apprehend a gunman, and now, his family has filed a civil lawsuit.

Roberson’s mother Beatrice Roberson told the Chicago Sun Times that she still has questions concerning her son’s death. “I don’t know if it was a mistake or not. I do want to see justice done,” she said.

RIP Jemel Roberson, a security guard (and church musician) who was holding down a suspect that had fired shots in a bar in the suburbs of Chicago. Jemel stopped a potential mass shooting.

While he was holding the suspect down, cops arrived and shot him. He died at the hospital. pic.twitter.com/22Xev8vMLL

— Michael Skolnik (@MichaelSkolnik) November 12, 2018

READ MORE: Black Security guard’s fatal shooting by police underscores America’s fear of Black men trumps “good guy with a gun” narrative

The  Midlothian police officer who fatally shot Roberson remains unnamed by authorities, but that has not stopped Roberson’s mother from suing him and the village of Midlothian. She is seeking upwards of $1 million.

Previously, the Midlothian Police Department acknowledged that two of its officers responded to a call about shots fired at the nightclub where Roberson worked and that one of those officers opened fire.

“A Midlothian officer encountered a subject with a gun and was involved in an officer-involved shooting. The subject the officer shot was later pronounced deceased at an area hospital,” read the statement from Midlothian Police Chief Daniel Delaney.

Gregory Kulis, the Roberson family’s attorney told WLS that Roberson was a hero. “Jemel was trying to save people’s lives. He was working security because a shooting had just taken place in the establishment,” said Kulis. “So, he was doing his job and holding on to somebody until … police arrived. And a police officer, our feeling is, did not make the proper assessment and fired and killed Jemel.”

At least four people, including Roberson, were shot at the nightclub. The Illinois State Police are investigating Roberson’s shooting and the Cook County Sheriff’s Office is contributing to the overall criminal investigation. The bar where Roberson was shot is located in Robbins, IL, about 20 miles south of Chicago.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help cover the cost of Roberson’s funeral.